theforecaster & eyeforpharma research places forecasting at the heart of business for Pharma companies

• Forecasting key to decision making and business strategies
• Challenges to define forecast measures against diversity in geography and varied time horizons
• Senior Forecasting executives from companies such as Novartis, Nycomed, Solvay and GE Healthcare now signed up to speak at  eyeforpharma`s forthcoming Forecasting Excellence Summit.
• The eyeforpharma Forecasting Excellence Summit USA 2007 will take place in Barcelona, April 2nd - 4th 2008

Following last year`s summit, James Bourneman Sanofi-Aventis US Forecasting Director concluded:`it confirmed my view that forecasting is slowly but surely moving away from something done by an excel nerd into something that is at the heart of the business - and key to its success.`

However the key question of `what is a forecast` still illustrates the key challenges that face Pharma companies where organisations have the need to provide inputs for multiple decisions from complex levels and locations.

This year`s summit will address the issues of how to deliver unique insights on how big Pharma companies are combining innovative strategies with basic models for competitive edge and each attendee will be provided with a roadmap for developing forecasting excellence.

With over 800 Pharma executives in attendance and with speakers from companies such as Novartis, Nycomed, Solvay and GE Healthcare in attendance, the summit aims to take advantage of their expertise and knowledge in placing forecasting at the centre of future sales and business strategies.

Aimed at senior marketing research, business intelligence and forecasting executives, the 3 day summit will cover such topics as: How to align new product forecasts at both HQ and affiliate level, incorporate marketing research and pricing analysis, forecast emerging markets and therapy areas, up to the minute forecasting methods and practices, demand planning, financial modeling, enterprise forecasting, understanding modeling uncertainty, in-market forecasting, new product forecasting and long term perspectives on pharma markets.